Chapter 388: The Crown Prince of WenwangChapter 278: Gain and Loss Are Uncertain

Zhao Rui said that, Li Chen was also not in the mood to appreciate the snow and plum blossoms.

Just kidding, what plum blossom can be as beautiful as a daisy

Li Chen, radiant and spirited, took Zhao Rui towards the sleeping quarters. Though it wasn't time for rest yet, no one dared to spoil the moment. The palace maids understood the situation well and didn't follow, allowing the prince to tease his consort.

But at this moment, inside the Fengxi Palace, all the maidservants and eunuchs had been driven out. The guards, with their hands on their swords, were enforcing the Empress's decree: anyone who dared to enter without permission would be killed.

Inside the palace, Li Yinhu, who had just arrived, was kneeling before Zhao Qinglan.

"Your humble son bows to you, Mother Empress."

After returning to Donggong, Zhao Qinglan felt physically and mentally exhausted, but she still managed to summon Li Yinhu.

Many things, many words, her own father was not convenient to come forward, she could only be the middleman.

Zhao Qinglan put aside the ginseng tea, which she had only taken two sips of, and said languidly: “Don’t be so quick to thank me, my words are only half spoken.”

"Although the Crown Prince was forced to agree to your title of King, he made it Zhao Wang, a mere prince. It's nothing more than a childish prank between you and my family, beneath notice."

But the prince did not grant you any fiefdom, so you can only remain in the capital.

Li Yinhu's face flashed a hint of gloom, but it disappeared in an instant. He respectfully said, "Mother has already done so much for my affairs, and I am deeply grateful for the outcome today. I dare not ask for more."

Nodding, Zhao Qinglan said with a hint of satisfaction: "You are more sensible than your younger brother... As for the fiefdom, this palace had already discussed it with father before, and deduced that it was unlikely."

"However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Things are rather turbulent outside right now. The rebellion in Xishan province hasn't been quelled, and unrest is showing in various regions. If not for those feudal lords who have been managing their territories for years, even if you were given a fief as the new king, it's unlikely you could manage it."

Li Ynhu said expressionlessly, "Everything, listen to your mother."

Zhao Qinglan glanced at Li Yinhǔ and said, "This palace doesn't know what you're thinking, but this is the best result right now. You'd better accept reality. Besides, staying in the capital isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Throughout history, whenever a dynasty had feudal lords and kings, the issue of rebellions among these vassals became an inherent problem in their later years. So why did our founding emperor choose to implement feudalism

"The world only knows that the ancestor favored his kin, hoping for the everlasting prosperity of the Qin Dynasty, and blood ties are one of the best bonds to maintain it."

"The Qin Empire's territory stretched for thousands of miles. Such a vast expanse couldn't be managed without the efforts of loyal officials and brave soldiers."

Moreover, below Taizu there were nine sons, each a prodigy in literature and martial arts. They could help the future emperor govern well.

But in fact, the Taizu truly made up his mind to enfeoff and perpetuate this system because he understood that compared with the chaos caused by vassal kings revolting, keeping princes pampered in the capital would only increase the burden on the royal family and the court, and could even lead to greater disaster.

Those princes, idle and bored all day, would constantly be eyeing the imperial throne. Only by giving them tasks and keeping them busy, far from the capital, the center of power in the land, could their ambitions be quelled.

"As for you, now that the Crown Prince keeps you in the capital to prevent you from wielding too much power, it seems like he is merely taking advantage of your youth and lack of influence. But who can say for sure if this isn't him digging his own grave"Chapter 592 Obstruction